482 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS.— PASSEKES—OSCINES. 



Ajialysis of Subgenera, Species, and Subspecies. 



Sexes subsimilar in size and color. (Subgenus Quiscalus.) 

 Tail decidedly shorter than wings, graduated 1.00-1.50. 



Iridescence various — green, blue, purple, violet, jf usually over 12.00 pnrpureus 



Iridescence of back brassy ; head steel-blue, cf usually over 12.00 p. (tneus 



Iridescence greenish, neck purple. J" usually under 12.00 p. (igUrus 



Sexes dissimilar ; $ brown much smaller than the (^. {^Vibgenns Megaquixcalus.) 



Tail about equal to wings, graduated about 2.50 mnjor 



Tail decidedly longer than wings, graduated 2.50-3.50 macrurus 



{Subgenus Megaquiscalus.) 



Q. macru'rus. (Gr. fiuKpos, macros, long, large ; ovpa, oura, tail. Fig. 322.) Fan-tailed 

 Crow Blackbird. Texas Grackle. Of largest size, with longest, most keeled and graduated 

 tail. Sexes very unlike. Bill very stout at base, tapering to strongly deflected tip. Adult ^ : 

 Iridescence chiefly purplish and violet, more greenish posteriorly. Length 17.00-20.00, aver- 

 aging about 18.50 ; extent 23.00-24.00 ; wing 7.50-8.00; tail about 9.00, graduated 2.50-3..50 ; 

 bill 1.75. Adult 9 '■ Dark brown; paler, grayish, or whitish below. Length 11.50-13.50; 

 extent 18.00-19.00 ; wing 5.50-6.50; tail about the same ; bill 1.30. The species tluis pre- 

 sents dimensions Q. major has not shown. Lower Rio Grande of Texas and S. through Mexico 

 to Nicaragua, very abundant, swarming in towns, where conspicuous by its curious antics as 

 well as great size and numbers. Breeds in colcjnies, either in reedy marshes, when the nest 

 is placed in the rushes over water, or anywhere about settlements in trees away from water ; 

 sometimes there are many nests in one tree, some at an altitude of 30 or 40 feet. Nests 

 built of any trash, usually with mud. Eggs in April, May, and June, usually 3, often 4, rarely 

 5, 1.12-1.45 by 0.82-0.90, averaging 1.25X0.85; greenish- or purplish- white, clouded 

 ofteuer over smaller end than at the other, irregularly spotted, veined, and scratched with dark 

 brown, blackish, and neutral tints. 



Q. ma'jor. (Lat. major, greater (than Q. jmrpurens).} Boat-tailed Crow Blackbird. 

 Boat-tailed Grackle. Jackdaw. Of large size, with l(.)ng, much keeled and graduated 

 tail. Sexes very unlike. Bill stout at base, tapering to deflected tip. Adult $ : Iridescence 

 mostly green, becoming purple or violet chiefly on head and neck. Length 15.50-17.00, aver- 

 age 16.50; extent 21.00-23.50, average 22.50; wing and tail, each, 6.25-7.25, average 7.00, 

 latter rather the longer of the two ; its graduation about 2.50; bill 150; tarsus nearly 2.00; 

 middle toe and claw about the same. Adult 9 '• Astonishingly smaller than J*, lacking any 

 great development of tail, and easily to be mistaken for another species. Length 12.00-13.50, 

 average 13.00; extent 17.25-18.25, average 17.75; wing 5.25-6.00, average 5.67; tail 4.75- 

 5.50, average 5.25. General color plain brown, only darker on wings and tail ; below brownish- 

 gray, frequently whitening on throat. S. Atlantic and Gulf States, coastwise, abundant ; N. 

 regularly to Virginia and Maryland, casually to New Jersey ; breeds throughout its range, 

 which meets that of Q. macrurus in Texas, and winters from Virginia southward. This 

 species differs from the common Crow Blackbird in being strictly maritime, with conse(picnt 

 modification in food and habits ; it may be seen at times wading in water, and small fish and 

 crustaceans form much of its fare. Nesting and eggs as in macrurus ; eggs averaging smaller, 

 but not distinguishable with certainty. 



(Sitbcjeniis Quiscalus.) 



Q. quis'cula. (For etym<dogy, see tlie generic name, whicli is another form of tlie same 

 word. Fig. 323.) Purple Crow Blackbird. Common Crow Blackbird. Keel- 

 tailed Grackle. Purple Grackle. Rusty Hinge. Of medium size, with moderately 

 keeled and graduated tail, shorter than wings. Sexes sul)similar. Bill usually less tapering 

 and deflected at ti}), but very variable. Adult ^ : Iridescence very variable with season, 



